WISDOM AND 

WISDOM TEACHERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Wisdom and Wisdom Teachers.”

Who have been your wisdom teachers? Who has given you your life wisdom?

Is there any wisdom teacher you’d would like to go to hear - to listen to her or his wisdom?

I was thinking last night - that  those are good questions. It’s good to reflect upon those who taught us the wisdom that is part of our lives. I think of at least 3 good teachers I’ve had - a few other people I’ve met along the way. The key is to not to first name the teacher - but to first name the wisdom - and then unravel, “Who was the one who taught me that.”

For example, one good specific wisdom learning I picked up was this: “You’re complaining about him - but give me a specific complaint.”  And sometimes that shuts me up or another up.” It can be worded with a two word question: “For example?”

SCRIPTURE READINGS AT MASS

Yesterday’s gospel talked about the Queen of the South coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon. It also talked about the Ninevites listening to Jonah and they were converted. Jesus made that comment when he saw the crowds listening to him - but many did not change or convert. Today’s gospel talks about Jesus at a dinner and Jesus notices the Pharisees once more concerned about externals - the outside - what you see. It’s not what you get. Then Jesus gives them the wisdom - that it’s the inside - the within - the person - one’s motives - the invisible - that counts.

Today’s first reading continues with the Letter of Paul to the Romans that we began yesterday - and we’ll have it as the first reading at daily Mass for about the next month.  Many people have listened to Paul - especially in his letter to the Romans and changed - like Augustine reading Romans 13: 11-14 - and he is changed - converted - after his long struggle. Notice in today’s first reading, how Paul goes from the known to the unknown - the seen to the unseen - to see the One who is behind and underneath - the one who is keeping us and all together.

TODAY’S FEAST OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA

Down through the years many people have read the writings of St. Teresa of Avila to sip her wisdom.

I like her take on prayer. She often uses simple clear images and pictures that everyone can understand. Who hasn’t understood her 4 stages of prayer?

The first stage is “Going to the well.” Prayer is seeing our soul like a garden and taking water from a well to water ourselves. Beginners in prayer have to start off small - like going to a specific place or prayer or prayer method.

The second stage is to get a garden hose. The person who sticks to prayer will find easier ways to water one’s garden.

The third stage is to pray near running water. It’s the message of Psalm 1. Be a live tree as opposed to a dead leaf. Lead a life that is bearing fruit. Prayer and action - and action and prayer work together. Talk isn’t enough.

And the fourth state is, “Sometimes it rains. Sometimes,  if we take time to just sit in prayer, we’ll grow and sometimes we’ll experience a downpour of God’s presence and love.

Of if we simply can’t pray, St. Teresa of Avila simply says to pray the Our Father slowly and with meaning.

We all know her comments about not letting anything disturb us. Of course it’s easier said than done. Yet listen to her words.

“Let nothing disturb you,
 let nothing cause you fear
All things pass.
God is unchanging.
Patience obtains all:
Whoever has God
needs nothing else.

God alone suffices.”    

A short cut is to say, “Nada” “Nothing!” inwardly - when someone or something is driving us nuts.

You know us priests, so I always liked her comment about "having a peculiar distrust of holy men who where stupid." (St Teresa of Avila, Bruce, 1943; TAN, 1987, p 75).

She went through a lot in her life - not only in her struggles with other nuns to reform the Carmelites - but also with the so called, “Thought Police”. In her life she was investigated by the Spanish Inquisition at least 6 times. Her books were investigated. The papal nuncio thought she was risky and restless and a disobedient woman. She was accused of heresy. So what else is new?

As you know, this has happened to lots of folks down through the years. Theologians are waiting to see how this Pope will be on all this. The wisdom I see in all this is the so called,  “Gamaliel Principle” - which you can find in the Acts of the Apostles. “If this is of God, in time we’ll know it. If it ain’t it will flop.” [Cf. Acts of the Apostles 5:34-39]

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Wisdom and Wisdom Teachers.”

Who are they? What specific wisdom insights have they given us? 

MARTHA AND MARY

Quote for Today - October 15, 2013 - Feast of Teresa of Avila

"To give our Lord a perfect hospitality, you have to be a combination of Martha and Mary."

St. Teresa of Avila [1515-1582]

Painting, "Martha Reproving Her Sister Mary," by Orazio Gentileschi, 1620

THE LETTER 

TO THE ROMANS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my thoughts for this 28^th Monday in Ordinary Time is, “The Letter to the Romans.”

Starting today we’ll be hearing The Letter to the Romans as our first reading in weekday Masses for almost a month  I thought that a few comments might be helpful. At least that’s the way I think and operate.  I need the big picture before I start looking at the small picture.

DATE

Scholars like John L. McKenzie and Joseph Fitzmyer say, “Paul probably wrote Romans in Corinth or in Cenchreae sometime in the winter of AD 57-58….” I’ve also seen the year 61.  Either date gives us an idea when it was written. Note: it’s still ahead of the date of the gospels as we have them.

AUDIENCE

Some scholars say it was written to a Gentile Christian community in Rome while others say it was written to a Jewish Christian community in Rome.

Scholars point out that Paul had not visited Rome yet - but he would know some of its members  - or know of them. There is no New Testament evidence who started the Christian Community in Rome.

Paul was planning on visiting them - on his way to Spain. That was his dream.

In the meanwhile Paul goes back to Jerusalem with money he received as a collection for the church there.  Some think he wanted to use as a stress to the Jewish Christian community there - that the Gentiles are in solidarity with us. In the meanwhile he is arrested in Jerusalem and that is what will  bring him to Rome. When he gets to Rome he is under house arrest there for 2 years and then he is martyred around 67-68.

CONTENTS

It does not contain all of the Christian teachings - for example there is nothing about the Eucharist.

Yet what it gives is powerful thoughts and significant theology. If you do any research on Romans, you’ll read comments like it having the most impact of any New Testament document on Christian theology down through the centuries.

For starters it has influence on other New Testament documents. It certainly shows up many times in the writings of the Early Church - for example St. Augustine. We’ll also see how it impacted Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Karl Barth and so many others.

His theology of faith and works, salvation, justification, redemption, grace, sin, righteousness, are big time issues at the time of the Reformation - as well as today.

Christ is our power - and we are powerless - but how powerless are we? I’m sure it depends upon what the struggle is. So Paul deals with these issues in this his most important letter: The Letter to the Romans.

CONCLUSION

So that’s a quick thumb nail commentary on this Letter to the Romans that we who go to daily Mass will be hearing in the next month. Listen carefully. Amen.

O O O O O O O O O O

Picture on top: Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy, consecrated in the 4th Century

NOT SURE

Quote for Today - October 14, 2013

"When we are not sure, we are alive."

Graham Green [1904-1991]

.... and surprise Columbus discovered America ....

Painting of Christopher Columbus by Sebastiano del Piombo [1485-1547]

TWINS

[The following is a story for this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time C - which I wrote after reflecting on today's first reading about Naaman the Syrian in the 2nd Book of Kings - Chapter 5 - who had a skin disease - and the 10 people in the gospel of Luke - Chapter 17 - who had skin diseases as well - and all are healed - and then the theme of thankfulness erupts.]

You wouldn’t know they were brothers.

You wouldn’t know they were twins.

But they were - they were brothers and they were twins.

But as I am about to  indicate in this story, they were different - as different as night and day - as different as blue and yellow - as different as sugar and pepper. They were different.

And their nicknames were “Think” and “Thank”. They picked them up - somewhere along the line - while traveling the time line of their lives. Interesting nicknames to say the least - Think and Thank - but like some nicknames they contained a deep truth.

So their nicknames fit each other, fit each brother, to the T.

But oops!  I’m getting ahead of the story - the story of  why  they picked up their nick names - and what kind of personality each was - in the first place.

In college - Tom - who became “Thank” - was tall and thin - 6 foot 2 - only 173 pounds - skin and bones. And to be honest - not that good looking. He could be gawky. He had  a big nose and big ears.

In college  - Terrence - who became “Think” - was the good looking one - 6 foot tall - 210 pounds  - smooth and savvy - who excelled in math. He was also an excellent running back - both in high school and now in playing college football.

You wouldn’t know they were brothers.

You wouldn’t know they were twins.

But they were: Terrence and Thomas - Think and Thank.

Tom’s face skin was quite scared - from a long serious season of teenage acne. At times in his teenage years,  classmates called him, “Leper!”

But aren’t we - really - who we really are - inside our skin? Yet  our face - our skin - our look - can define us - who we are - for a time. So it took time for Tom to become Tom - the thankful one.

But it really wasn’t till he spent time in college - that he realized - nicknames like “Leper” or “Ears” or “Nose” - really didn’t bug him that big. In fact Tom began to flourish in college. This happened somewhere along his Junior or Senior year at the same state college he and Terrence went to together. He learned that big groups really didn’t matter. Close friends did. He knew that those who knew him - loved and appreciated him whenever he walked into a room or a situation. He became Tom simply becoming Tom.

His friends discovered that Tom had this great gift of being thankful.  Once you caught that - you caught his personality. The big sparkle in his eyes - was bigger than his ears and his nose and the pockmarks on his cheeks and forehead from his acne.  The fun - the delight - the joy - the quick or cute comments he made about life and the passing scene - brought joy to the conversations he was part of. You might say the words he spoke or used were covered with a smooth skin.

So it was somewhere in the midst of the mix of many moments that his basic attitude towards life earned him the nickname, “Thank.”

Every meal - every cup of coffee - every trip  - every game - was always “a great time” - and he would always say, “Thank you.”

In fact, he was always the last one out of every restaurant - or pub - because he would track down the waiter or waitress - who served them and he would look them in the eye and say, “Thank you!”  And that “Thank you” was  better than any tip left on a restaurant table.

That was - and kept on getting stronger - the essence of this guy named “Tom” that I’m trying to describe for you today.

Terrence was different. It took time for him to acquire his nickname of “Think”. He sort of had an itch and edge in him.

So Terrence was just the opposite. He wasn’t the type to put butter on the bread of human relationships. The waiter or waitress, the coach - the musician, the teacher - better be the best - if they were to get a basic “Thank you!” from Terrence.

Terrence never became Terry. Thomas became Tom or Tommy by his very close friends - as well as “Thank” - in God’s good time.

If time is of the essence in all this, it took time for Terrence to become Think - but I better tell you now - it was never to his face. It was always just behind his back - in contrast to his twin brother “Thank” - who heard people call him that - out loud and to his face.

Terrence was the logical one. He had to figure everything out - especially motive. He could be suspicious - or “standbackish” at times.

If you’re not a twin - and I’m not one - so I’m not that sure about all this - but Think or Terrence - spent a lot of time trying to think just why his brother Tom was so different from him. Maybe it was because Tom was 7 minutes older than him - but come to think about that - it couldn’t be that. It had to be something else - so he kept on thinking about that one - on and off - much of his life. And much of his life comparing himself to his brother - made him feel uneasy - and uncomfortable. Something seemed unfair.

Tom - in contrast - never thought that much about their differences - just the joy - the comments that came up - whenever others found out he was a Terrence’s twin . “You guys are brothers!  You guys are twins! You’re kidding!”

[PAUSE - LONG PAUSE]

Life went on….

Terrence got married three times - and he was divorced three times. His wives couldn’t live up to his standards of perfection. He thought it was vice versa - but they knew it was vice versa - when they finally broke away from him and got the divorce.

In fact, this is something - luckily - Terrence never found out about - but all three ex-wives - got together for lunch once - and then dinner - and then lunch again - and what they put together - were learnings for their own lives - that no college could teach. Each said they were relieved when the deal called “marriage” finally fell through - and when they finally figured some things out about their life choices.

And also - quietly behind Terrence’s back - his parents - Tom and Terrence’s parents - finally said to each other, “It’s sad - but Thank God our daughter-in-law’s got smart and got out from under Terrence.” This happened somewhere there - when their sons were in their mid 30’s. And they added, “Thank God Terrence had no kids.”

But they added, “Thank God Tommy had 3 kids” - their 3 grandkids who were a delight - and a joy - and gave them great meaning as they moved into  the autumn and winter seasons of their lives.

Sad to say Terrence’s face become somewhat sullen - even though he was always the handsome one.  But at family weddings or what have you - everyone without being conscious of it - knew Tommy or Thank or Tom was the happy one.

But sometimes good news - happens - healings start to happen. Hey, aren’t we all people of hope? Who wants to hear a story with a unhappy ending? So here’s the good news that began to happen.

Terrence accidently overheard someone describing him and his brother as “Think” and “Thank” - and he knew immediately who was who. 

The more he thought about that - the more he realized his twin brother was his gift to him. 

So they would go out to dinner from time to time - actually at least once a month. 

They were now in their early fifties. 

Think slowly began to become more and more like Thank. 

And so he would thank his brother Tom for being such a great twin brother and a great gift to him. 

Ooops, in fact, both would stop to find the waiter and waitress - after a long meal together - and say together, “Thank you!”

THANK YOU, GOD

Quote for Today - Sunday October 13, 2013

"I thank You God

for this most amazing day;

for the leaping greenly spirits of  trees

and a blue true dream of sky;

and for everything which is natural

which is infinite

which is yes."

e.e. cummings [1894-1962]

HEARING ISN’T ENOUGH!

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 27^th Saturday in Ordinary Time  is, “Hearing Isn’t Enough!”

That’s a basic theme we know and have heard many, many times.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Last night when I heard today’s short gospel, my first reaction was, “Uh, not enough - not enough for a homily.”

So I read the gospel again - and the second time around the word near the end of the  gospel intrigued me: “observe” - as opposed to just “hearing” the word of God.

This woman from a crowd of listeners to Jesus is grabbed or fascinated with what Jesus is saying - so she praises his mother.

Isn’t that fascinating? Was she thinking of her own children - wishing they could speak and teach and say the wise and wonderful things Jesus was saying?  Was she thinking: wow his mother must be so proud of her son?

Jesus is not putting down his mother - nor this woman - but he’s simply saying, “Hearing isn’t enough!” You have to do more than just listen. You have to go beyond the hearing - to the next step - the next level.  But how to describe that?

RESEARCH

I began trying to remember the different translations and ways this message has been presented that I have heard down through the years.

In today’s gospel, Jesus replied to the admiring woman, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Instead of  the word “observe” - I’ve heard other English words,  “keep” or “obey” as well as “put it into practice.”

I looked up what the Greek word was that is used to translate “observe” and found it to be “phulasso” - P H U L A S S O. 

That Greek word is also used in Luke 2:28 - when the shepherds -  who come to Bethlehem to see the new born baby - those shepherds are said to “P H U L A S S O” - the sheep - translated usually “to watch over them, to keep watch, to protect the sheep.”

That certainly is more than just saying observe.  “I watch over the sheep” or “I guard the sheep - and Jesus will even say, “I’ll lay down my life for my sheep.” That’s more than just observe.

AN OPENING

By that tiny bit of research this Gospel text opened up for me. Then it hit me loud and clear that hearing is not enough.

We all know the person who is very noisy or they leave the milk out or they don’t pick up after themselves or they never empty the dishwasher and we voice our complaint to them. Then they say, “I hear you.” But then they don’t do anything about it.

How many times has the always late person said, “I’m sorry!” And the family or group complains or the other complains, “You’re always late and you keep me or us waiting.” And they say, “I hear you.” Then they are late the next time and the time after that and the time after that ad nauseam.

Hearing is not enough. An “I’m sorry” is not enough. A smile is not enough.

CONCLUSION

Back to Mary - the woman who gave Jesus birth, milk, life and wisdom, she hears the word of God - questions it - ponders it.

Then she says, “Yes - be it done to me according to your word.” 

Mary models the message of this homily - “Hearing is not enough!” Mary becomes pregnant with it. Mary - when she hears her cousin Elizabeth is pregnant and is older - Mary goes into the hill country - south - in haste to help her cousin.

Hearing is not enough. Talk is easy. Words can demand work. Words must become flesh. It’s the old song line: “Don’t talk about love. Show me.”

UNLESS YOU BE 

LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN!

Quote for Today - Saturday October 11, 2013

"Everyone knows a good deal about one child - himself [or herself]"

Sidney M.B. Coulling, professor of English, Washington and Lee University, in The Privilege of Teaching, Morehouse-Barlow, 1962

ON BEING MANIPULATED

Quote for Today - October 11, 2013

“She had once been a Catholic, but discovering that priests were infinitely more attentive when she was in process of losing or regaining faith in Mother Church, she maintained an enchantingly wavering attitude.” 

F. Scott Fitzgerald [1896-1940], This Side of Paradise (1921), Book 1, Chapter 1.

IS THE ONLY PLOT, 

THE GRAVE?

Quote for Today - October 10, 2013

“As regards plots I find real life no help at all.  Real life seems to have no plots.”

Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett [1844-1969] In R. Lehmann et. al. Orion I (1945) page 25.

THE FIRST DEATH

Quote for Today - October 9, 2013

“After the first death, there is no other.”

Dylan Thomas [1914-1953] Deaths and Entrances (1946) “A Refusal to Mourn the Death by Fire, of a Child in London.”

HOW GOD SEES ME

Quote for Today - October 8, 2013

“Curate de la affeccion de preocuparte como aparezias a los demas.  Cuidate solo de como aparezias Dios, cuidate de la idea que de ti Dios tenga.”

“Cure yourself of the condition of bothering about how you look to other people.  Concern yourself only with how you appear to God, with the idea that God has of you.”

Miguel de Unamuno [1864-1937],  Vida de Don Quixote y Sancho (Life of Don Quixote and Sancho, 1905) part 1

ALIVE OR DEAD? 

Quote for Today - October 7, 2013

“Someone has somewhere commented on the fact that millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.”

Susan Ertz [1894-1985], Anger in the Sky (1943), page 137

FAITH: 

ALL  OF  THE ABOVE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 27 Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, is, "Faith: All of the Above."

 OPENING STORY

Once upon a time at a convention of leaders of spirituality from all over the world, a panel of 5 wise people were asked this basic question, “When you hear the word `faith’, what does it mean to you? In other words, how would you describe faith?”

The audience of about 1,000 people sat back and began to wonder and reflect on just what these wise persons would say about faith.

The wise man from the north began, “Faith is a vision. It’s a clear point like a compass point. The person of faith knows where he or she is headed. The person of faith knows where to put the next foot. It’s like knowing what harbor one is headed for. As we go across the sea of life, we run into storms from time to time. Accidents happen. People hurt us or we hurt people. Relationships crumble. People die. Well, the person of faith makes it through these storms, precisely because they have faith. The person of faith can deal with the ups and downs of life, because he or she has a confidence and a clarity on just where they are headed. The person of faith might make mistakes, might get lost at times, but they keep on trying to get back on course because they know where they are headed. And as they get older and wiser they make many more efforts to prevent things from throwing them off course or have their vision blurred.”

The wise man from the south spoke next, “I see faith a little bit differently. I see faith as something delicate. It’s a gift that we get from God and family and Church and others. It’s like someone handing us a lighted candle, so that it will be much easier for us as we make our way down the dark corridor of life. We need light, otherwise we’re going to crash into the wall. However, we must remember that we can lose faith. There is no guarantee that the flame won’t go out. We have to bring extra candles, extra matches, or to go with others who know the way. We have to watch out for the rain or winds and sudden drafts. So when it comes to faith, one has to be very careful. A person can lose their faith. So I see faith as the gift of a lighted candle handed to us to help guide us through the dark moments of life.”

The wise person from the west spoke next. She said, “I see faith not as something delicate, but as something very strong and very basic. Faith is the very ground we stand on. Faith is the bed rock of all of life. Faith is like a rich deposit of gold buried beneath the earth that we are standing on. Without faith one can’t get out of bed in the morning.”

She paused for a moment of silence to let that sink in. Then she went on, “Faith then is the very ground we are standing on. It’s holy ground. Most of the time it’s so secure that we don’t even notice it. We don’t stop and think that this earth is actually spinning. Everything looks still. Earthquakes are rare. We don’t stop to reflect on the many things we take for granted. We trust. We have faith in the people we live with - most of the time. We have faith in the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, that is, till there is a food tampering or someone poisons the well or blows up a 757 airplane.”

The audience became quieter. The wise person from the West went on, “We already are people of faith. We are people of trust. We go through life trusting much more than we realize. We’re standing on the shoulders of our parents and our ancestors. They have given us so much: language, inventions, customs, culture, values, etc. We grow up trusting that the electricity is there when we turn on the light in the night and that the alarm will wake us up in the morning. Without realizing it then, we are standing on our past. We’re standing on a rich deposit of faith that has taken millions of years to evolve. Right now this planet is somewhat safe, provided our generation or future generations give it a rest and don’t further destroy it. And I’m not just talking about destroying the ecology. I’m also talking about destroying people. Each of us needs to ask, `Am I contributing to the good of all or to the destruction of it all? And I building faith or destroying faith - faith in God, neighbor, self, creation?” Or as the question was phrased in the 1960’s, `Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?’” 

The wise person from the east waited a while and then said, “I see faith as a seed, that is, good seed as opposed to bad seed. Faith needs to be planted in the soil of a person early on and at the right time. If we are lazy or not careful, many other things can start to take root and begin to grow in our souls. So it’s important that we have good family life. Each generation needs to pass on to the next generation the deepest values of life: that God creates us and sustains us, that God loves us and calls us to love one another and that we are called to be one people. Faith then is good seed. It needs to be nurtured. So we need good homes, good friends, good places of worship. Each of us needs to be a good farmer. We need to keep an eye on what’s growing in our soil and the people around us. A farmer needs to cooperate with the soil and the weather and the land, trusting that God will give the increase.”

The last wise person was from the center. She said, “I see faith as all of the above. But I would add that faith is only real when it shows up in service, that is, in love of our neighbor. Faith without works is dead. Talk is cheap. We vote with our feet. So servants, put on your aprons and start preparing meals for other people, especially the poor.”

HOMILETIC REFLECTIONS

Today’s readings contain all of the above. If you read them carefully, you’ll see those 5 basic ideas about faith that I mentioned in the opening story:

     1) Faith as Vision

     2) Faith as Light

     3) Faith as a Rich Deposit 

     4) Faith as a Seed

     5) Faith as Service

In today’s first reading Habakkuk talks about faith as a vision. We don’t know the date of the book of Habakkuk. Some date it around 600 B.C. But if we look at today’s first reading reflectively, we can see that it touches on feelings that we all have. We are going along smoothly through life and then things turn nasty. We become miserable and sometimes violent. We cry out in prayer for help and the Lord doesn’t seem to be listening. Habakkuk felt that, but it seems that the Lord eventually did answer. Habakkuk was given a vision. He wrote it down. And he tells us to learn how to wait. The vision will come. It’s presence will not disappoint us. If there is a delay, wait. It will arrive and we will then know what our life is all about and what we should do. The vision is the gift of faith. And today’s first reading from Habakkuk ends with one of the most frequently quoted verses from the Bible, “The just man (person), because of his faith, shall live.”

The reading from 2 Timothy gives us the second and third ideas of faith that we heard in the opening story: Faith as Light and Faith as a Rich Deposit. Paul writing from prison urges Timothy and us not only to keep the light of faith burning, but to stir it into a flame. The Greek word for “stir into flame” could also be translated as, “to rekindle” or “to agitate” or “to fan the flame”. The key idea then is to realize that faith is a gift, a rich deposit that has been handed down to us. Moreover, we need to guard it, keep it burning, and what’s more, to “fan its flame.”

The gospel gives us the last two ideas about faith from the opening story: Faith as a Seed and Faith as Service. The gospel begins with the apostles asking the Lord, “Increase our faith.” And Jesus tells them that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed they can work wonders. Here in Luke 17 Jesus says you would be able to move a sycamore tree. In Matthew 17 Jesus says they would be able to move a mountain. Whatever it is that we want to move, we must begin with a prayer for faith and then the faith to make the move.

Today’s gospel then looks at the question of being a servant. This message has a bite to it. We rather not hear it. We prefer Jesus’ words from John, “I no longer call you servants, but friends.” (Jn. 15:15) We rather have him wash our feet or at least sit us at table with him. In a restaurant, wouldn’t we rather be the one being served than the one serving? (Lk. 22:27) Yet service is what it’s all about. Jesus ends today’s gospel with these words, “When you have done all you have been commanded to do, say, `We are useless servants. We have done no more than our duty.’” How many of us can say that we have even got to the stage of doing all that we have been commanded to do? 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The practical applications from all this are many, but let us limit ourselves to three points put in the form of three questions:

     1) What is my faith?

     2) Have I ever prayed for more faith?

     3) Where do I need more faith in my life?

FIRST QUESTION: WHAT IS MY FAITH?

When we go to the hospital or when we have to fill out forms, sometimes we are asked, “What is your faith?” And we answer, “Catholic” or “Roman Catholic.”

Sometimes it’s good when we come to church or when we are alone, for example, going to and from work, to take some time out to examine “What is my faith?”

Everyone has a faith. Everyone has a religion. Everyone, those who go to church and those who say they believe in nothing, have basic deep down beliefs. No one is an atheist. Either God is their God or they or something or someone else is their god - the core belief around which we wrap our life.

What are the guiding assumptions of our life? Who comes first?  Do we watch out for the other guy? When the platter of roast beef is passed to us, do we take the best piece or do we think of the next person? What are we after?

In his book, Diary of a Country Priest, George Bernanos wrote, “Faith is not a thing one `loses’; we merely cease to shape our lives by it.” So it is a good idea to ask, “What are the forces and the values that are shaping my life? What is my faith?”

SECOND QUESTION: HAVE I EVER PRAYED FOR MORE FAITH?

Today’s gospel begins with a great prayer for faith, “Increase our faith.”  Have you ever gone to the Lord and made a prayer like that? When you are going home from work or when you’re walking the dog, take your rosary and say on each bead, “Lord, increase our faith.”

THIRD QUESTION: WHERE DO I NEED MORE FAITH IN YOUR LIFE?

What are the trees in your life that need to be uprooted? What are the mountains that need to be moved? Where do you feel that you have hit a dead end or a wall without a door? That’s where you need faith. That’s where you need a vision, because there are people on the other side of that wall that need your service. There are people on the other side of that mountain that need your love. Isn’t service the reason why we need faith? Isn’t service the reason why God created us? Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Isn’t that the vision and the calling of every person?

CONCLUSION

Someone once said, “We need an abounding faith that will cut all the t’s off all those `Can’ts’ and make them into `Can’s’”

I can do it. I can serve. I can be a person of faith. I can do all of the above.

* This is a Homily I wrote years ago for Markings, a homilectic service that from the Thomas More Association. I'm on vacation, but I wanted to put a Sunday Homily on my blog. 

EATING ALONE?

Quote for Today - October 6, 2013

“The best number for a dinner party is two - myself and dam’ good head waiter.”

Nubar Gulbenkian [1896-1972] in the Daily Telegram (U.K,), January 14, 1965

TEETH BUT VERIFY

Quote for Today - October 5, 2013

“Aristotle maintained that women had fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives’ mouth.”

Bertrand Russell [1872-1970] Impact of Science on Society, (1952) Chapter 1.

BOREDOM

Quote for Today - October 4, 2013

“Boredom is therefore a vital problem for the moralist, since half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.”

Bertrand Russell [1872-1970], Conquest of Happiness (1930), chapter 4

 HAPPINESS

Quote for Today - October 3, 2013

“Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.”

Thomas Szasz  [1920-2012 ]  The Second Sin [1973] “Emotions”

ANGELS:

MESSAGES AND  MESSENGERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this feast of The Holy Guardian Angels is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers.”

This morning I would  like to preach about angels. I don’t take them lightly - in spite of G. K. Chesterton’s cute remark: “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” [Orthodoxy (1908) Chapter 7]

I like the nuance in Alan Watts comment better: “We do not realize that, as Chesterton reminded us, angels fly because they take themselves so lightly.” [The Way of Liberation, 1983]

Our church teaching - coming out of our scriptures - and our traditions -  is that God sends his angels as messengers as well as to watch over us - to guard and guide us.

Today’s feast proclaims that God sends each of us a guardian angel to guide us.

Angels are not a topic we hear about that often. We have trouble enough - to get people to believe in God.

Once more the title of my homily is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers.”

BASIC MEANING OF ANGELS

The most basic meaning of what an angel is, is, “A Messenger.”

In the Bible, in our scriptures, angels bring messages.

The Bible has various stories about angels who show up to help people in trouble - in difficult times - people in need help to solve a problem - as well as angels who show up to give people a call - a vocation - a mission.

Angels are invisible - therefore maybe millions of them can sit on the head of pin. Angels in the Bible are given names: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael. Notice the EL at the end of those names - EL a Hebrew word for “God”.

The Bible tells us about two types of angels: good angels and bad angels. The Devil is the Prince of the Bad Angels. They are also called “Demons” at times.

EAR BUDS

This is a thing called “ear buds”. You plug it a receiver of various sorts - and one hears - messages of sorts - through these ear phones.

I was just down in Philadelphia for the past two days to see one of my sisters who is dying. I drove to my other sister and the two of us took the train Monday and then yesterday, Tuesday, to the University of Penn hospital.

I began noticing on the train - and on the stations - and in the hospital - one million people with these in their ears - or they had cell phones or their equivalents - in hand - everywhere.

It seems that everyone is reading, listening, texting messages - all day long.

The obvious message that hit me is this: the air is filled with messages and messengers.

If we look out our eyes and if tune up our ears - we still can’t see or hear the many cell phone voices and invisible inaudible sounds and messages that  are shooting through our air - could a million of these messages sit on the head of a pin? -  but stick one of these ear buds in one’s ears and one hears all kinds of sounds and songs - or open up one’s iPhones or Droid or cell phone and surprise - there are lots of messages flying through our space.

Keep that in mind - when thinking of the world and atmosphere of angels and devils, spirits and demons.

Up till Modern Times - up till the Enlightenment - people thought of the world filled with spirits - voices. They were often called, “Angels and Demons.”  Isn’t that the title of a book by Dan Brown?

When you are in college, take a course in anthropology.  Learn about the mind set of  Aborigine People - or ancient peoples. They will tell a student how some people see the world filled with voices - spirits - demons.

Has this changed? In a way yes and in a way, no.

Listen to folks and you’ll discover that people today - are unconsciously aware of positive and negative forces, energies, voices, strengths and weaknesses.

You’ve heard, I’m sure, the Native American story of the two dogs.

Every person has inside of them two dogs: the good dog and the bad dog. The good dog is a “nice dog”. Everyone loves a nice dog. Pet him or her. She or he is nice to have around. They guard us. They protect us. The bad dog is the one who growls - is a b….. - bites and annoys us. And the Native American teacher - teaches the young one about those 2 dogs. And the teacher tells the kids that they are always fighting. And a kid asks, “Which one wins?” And the teacher loves to give the moral of the story: “The one we feed.”

LISTEN TO YOUR VOICES

In this homily I’d stress take off your ear buds and listen to the voices inside your head.

What are your voices this morning.  Are you saying, “What am I doing here?” Or, “How long is this going to last?”  “What’s happening?” Or, “Will my dad find a job?” Or “What’s for lunch?” Or “Cool!”

What are your voices?

Which voices are the loudest?

Which voices are winning?

We can be perfectly quiet and drums are beating loudly into our brains - by iTunes.

Today I would stress listening to your angels. Listen to your Guardian Angel - telling you, yelling to you, voicing to you - messages of care, hope, love.

What do you sound like inside your ears - inside your brain?

I was sitting on two train platforms the last 2 days - and various trains - and I could hear people talking to other people. I could hear voices. I couldn’t see what people were texting.

A major message from this homily is to listen to your voices.

Are those voices good angels or bad angels - good messages or bad messages - good messenger or bad messengers.

CLINT HURDLE - PITTSBURGH PIRATES

I was reading in the paper about the Pittsburgh Pirates getting into the baseball playoffs. I was reading that Clint Hurdle - the manager of the Pirates - was sick and tired of the Loser Culture in the Pittsburgh Pirates mind set. Think Win. Each day Clint Hurdle voiced positive messages. He called in team leaders and urged that they voice positive leadership messages.

What are you telling yourself each day?

What have your parents - teachers - been saying of you - all these years?  If they are negative messages, if they are negative messengers, change the messages and change the messengers.

I want to thank you for the prayers for my sister Peggy - who is quite sick. She told me in the hospital that a doctor in Scranton said directly and indirectly, “Call hospice. You’re going to die.”  She screamed, “I want a second opinion.”

She got out of that system - away from that doctor - and got into a teaching hospital - down to the University of Penn Hospital and they are trying to make a profound diagnosis - so they can come up with a prognosis to giver her more life. It looks like she’s going to need to take oxygen for the rest of her life - but as for time - more - more - more life.

BACKPACKING IN  THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

I remember the first time we went backpacking in the Rocky Mountains. 4 of us drove across the country to Colorado from New York City. I was driving and one of the guys in the back seat was reading out loud stuff to keep in mind with backpacking and camping. One of the things he read out loud was this: “Keep in mind the # 1 rule for backpacking in the wilderness is: Don’t panic!”

I asked out loud, “Number 1?”

Back came the answer a second time: “Yes - # 1 rule - Don’t panic.”

Well a few days later I’m going across a tree trunk to get to the other side of a mountain stream. The water below me is flowing really loud and deep. I started to slip and I caught myself saying to myself: “Don’t panic!” It worked. I braced myself - caught my almost falling - breathed - stopped - and then slowly and calmly walked to the other side.

That voice - that message - was installed in my brain - in that car - and I called upon it - while on that tree trunk - going over that flowing mountain stream.

Angels give those kinds of voices.

Just as voices urge us to make fun of others - be nasty with a put down about others - to others, so messages - like the theme for this year, “Every Person Matters” - challenge us to hear that message and put it into practice.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Angels: Messages and Messengers”

I’ve been saying that there are positive and negative messages and messengers in the air and in the ear - listen to  - and incorporate - make flesh - make them your own - the positive messages and messengers - and dis the negative.

This is St. Mary’s Church - and the great message about Mary is that an angel came to her and said, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you.”

Each time to come to church - each time you start a day - hear your guardian angel say to you, “The Lord be with you!” and voice back to him or her, “And with your spirit. Amen.”

ANGELS 

Quote for Today - October 2, 2013 - Feast of the Guardian Angels

"It's easy to be an angel when nobody ruffles our feathers."

Anonymous

GENIUS 

INSPIRATION 

AND PERSPIRATION

Quote for Today - October 1, 2013

"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Thomas Alva Edison, Life

GENIUS

Quote for the Day - Monday September 30, 2013

"A genius is the one who has two great ideas."

Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man

Question: Well what are your two great ideas?